District of



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

YZDCROSBY W Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

NC .Cagmsua GRAVITY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED )ULY I0, 1915.

W. 0. CROSBY & N. C. CARLISLE.

rcns m. Puma-ulna WASHINK n r Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. 0. CROSBY & N\ C. CARLISLE.

GRAVITY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1915.

are

WILLIAM 0. cnosny AND NELSON c. CARLISLE, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

GRAVITY-MOTOR.

messes.

Application filed July 10, 1915.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, W ILLIAM O. Cnosnv and Nelson C. CAnLisLn, both citizens of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity-Motors, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gravity motors, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the energy expended by the lowering or drop of liquid or pulverulent material can be utilized in an economical and effective manner for the performance of useful work.

Scattered throughout the country are many comparatively small water falls and rapids Where the volume of water and drop is not sufficient to justify the installation of a turbine, although by the'use of the present device the energy of these small water falls can be economically utilized for commercial purposes.

Further objectsof the invention are to provide a gravity motor of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which is semi-automatic in its operation and requires but little attention, which will not get out of repair or become clogged by the deposit of sediment from muddy water, and which provides a practical means for converting the energy developed by the drop of the water into such a form that itcan be utilized for the driving of a dynamo or any other piece of machinery.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gravity motor constructed in accordance with the invention, the car being shown by full lines at the bottom of the inclined track, and by dotted lines at the top of the inclined track. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1., 1916.

Serial No. 39,088.

through the reservoir and hopper which are located at the upper end of the inclined track. Fig. 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the car. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the latch mechanism for engaging the pendulum and locking the escapement mechanism when the car reaches the bottom of the inclined track.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

The idea of the invention is susceptible of being embodied in many different mechanical constructions, one such embodiment being shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the invention, although it will be understood that the applicants do not restrict themselves to the exact details of construction appearing upon the drawing.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention shown by the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a supporting framework or trestle, and 2 an inclined track at one side thereof, said members being of any conventional construction. A car 3 adapted to contain liquid or pulverulent material is mounted upon the inclined track 2 so as to travel up and down thereon, a bumper a being provided at the bottom of the track to limit the downward movement of the car thereon. A cable 5 is connected to the front or upper end of the car 3, and extends upwardly to a drum 6 located at the top of the inclined track and mounted upon a transverse shaft journaled within suitable bearings 8 upon the frame work 1. When the car 3 is at the top of the track 2 the cable 5 is completely wound upon the drum 6, while as the car 3 slowly descends the track the cable i gradually unwound from the drum 6. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the track 2 is inclined'laterally as well as vertically, the lateral inclination being just sufficient to cause an even winding upon and unwinding of the cable 5 from the drum 6 as the car moves up and down upon the inclined track.

Located at the top of the trestle 1 is a reservoir 9 which may receive water from any suitable source, as from a supply pipe 10. One end of the reservoir 9 is formed with a discharge opening 11 which is controlled by a suitable valve 12 and through hich water is discharged from the reservoir 9 into the hopper 13. lhe valve 12 is float and the valve. In the present instance the valve 12 is mounted to slide vertically and is connected to one arm of a horizontal lever 15 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point in its length upon a bracket 16 projecting from the reservoir, the opposite end of the lever being connected by an extensible rod 17 to the float 14. lhis extensible rod 1? is shown as formed in two telescoping sections which are normally locked in an adjusted position by means of a set screw 18, and when the water in the hopper 13 reaches a predetermined level, the float 14 operates through the horizontal lever 15 to close the valve 12. By adjusting the length of the extensible rod 17 adjustment can be made for closing the valve 12 when the water reaches a higher or lower level, as desired. The quantity of each charge of water deposited in the hopper from the reservoir can thus be regulated as desired.

From the hopper 13 the water is discharged into the car 3 when thelatter is at the top of the inclined track 2. lhe lower end of the hopper 13 is formed with an outlet opening 19 which is controlled by a valve 20 and preferably discharges into a distributing pan 21 having a number of orifices 22 in the bottom thereof through which the water issues in a plurality of comparatively small jets and drops into the car. It is preferable to make the car 3 as light as possible and the sudden impact of a heavy stream of water upon the same might tend to bend and distort the same, although with the use of the distributing pan 21 the water flows into the car in a series of small streams which will quickly fill the same without the objectionable impact which would be incident to filling the car with a large stream of water. The valve 20 for the outlet opening 19 of the hopper 13 is automatically opened by the car'3 when the latter reaches the upper end of the track. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for accomplishing this result, although in the present instance the valve is slidably mounted and connected by a slide rod 23 to a beveled block 24 which is arranged in the path of a cam nose 25 carried by the car. A suitable spring 26 normally holds the valve 20 in aclosed position, although when the car 3 reaches the upper limit of its movement the cam nose 25 engages the beveled block 24 and forces the slide rod 23 upwardly so as to open the valve 20 and permit the car to be filled from the hopper. After the car has been filled it will slowly descend the track 2 and unwind the cable 5 from the drum 6. When the car reaches the lower end of the inclined track 2 a suitable valve 27 at the lower end thereof is automatically opened to discharge the water from the car. The valve 27 may be of any suitable construction, being shown in the present in stance of the rotary type. A trip lever 28 is connected to the rotary member of the valve and arranged to the abutment 4 and automatically open the valve when the car reaches the lower end of the inclined track. A spring 29 is connected to the triplever 28 and normally swings the same to close the valve 27, so that the said valve is closed at all times except when the car is at the lower limit of its movement.

The drum 6 is provided with a ratchet wheel 30 which is engaged by a spring actuated pawl 31 upon an escapement wheel 32 loose upon the shaft 7. An'anchor 33 engages the teeth of the escapement wheel 32, said anchor being provided with the usual vibrating rod 34 which engages a pendulum 35 having a bob 36 at the lower end thereof. The pendulum rod 35 is formed in two sections which are hinged at 37, suitable spring stops 38 being provided to limit the swinging movement of the upper pendulum section. This escapement mechanism serves as a speed controlling device and causes the loaded car 3 to travel down the track at a uniform speed. @rdinarily the loaded car would travel comparatively slowly, although the heavy height of the water therein would cause an extremely strong pull to be exerted upon the cable 5 for the purpose of rotating the drum 6. Upon the forward rotation of the drum 6 produced by the downward travel of the loaded car upon the inclined track 2, the escapement wheel 32 is locked with the drum so as to rotate therewith.

Any suitable meansmay be provided for taking power from the escapement wheel 32 during the downward travel of the loaded car 3 upon the inclined track '2, the said escapement wheel serving also as a drive wheel. in the present instance the power is designed to be ultimately taken from a drive shaft 39 which is j ournaled within bearings 40 on the main frame land has a drive pulley 41 rigidly applied thereto. This drive shaft 39 is suitably connected by belting or gearing to the escapement wheel 32, the connection being of such a nature that the very slow rotation of the escapement wheel causes the drive shaft to rotate at the necessary speed. In the present instance a small pulley 42 on the drive shaft 39 is connected by a belt 43 to a large pulley 44 on a countershaft 45, said countershaft being provided with a small pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 47 to a large pulley 48 on a second countershaft 49. This second countershaft 49 is in turn provided with a small pulley 50 which is connected by a belt 51 to a large pulley rigid with the escapement wheel 32. In this manner the speed of rotation of the various shafts successively increases as the power is transmitted thereto from the escapement wheel and the final or drive shaft 39 rotates at a proper speed for connection to a dynamo or other piece of machinery.

Provision is made for automatically locking the escapement mechanism when the loaded car 3 reaches the bottom of the in clined track 2, and thereby preventing backward movement of the escapement wheel while the drum 6 is manually rotated to draw the empty car 3 up to the top of the inclined track where it may be again filled with water. In order to move the empty car 3 to the top of the track, the operator turns a crank handle 53 which is rigid with a shaft 54, said shaft being suitably connected as by means of a chain and sprocket to the drum 6. During the backward rotation of the drum the springactuated pawl 31 of the escapement wheel 32 slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel and as soon as the car reaches the upper limit of its movement the valve. 20 of the hopper is automatically opened by the cam mechanism previously described, so as to perm1t the water within the hopper to discharge into the car through the distributing pan 21.

When the loaded car 3 reaches the bottom of the inclined track 2 a trip lever- 56 is engaged thereby, said trip lever be ng pivotally mounted at an intermediate point in its length, as indicated at 57, and one end thereof being connected to a cable 58 which passes rearwardly around an idler 59, and then forwardly to a detent 60 which controls a latch member 61 arranged at substantially right angles thereto. A spring 62 normally tends to hold the detent 60 in engagement with the the latch bolt 61, the latter being slidably mounted within a casinn; 63 and engaged by a spring 64E which normally tends to project the beveled end 5 thereof beyond the end of the casing. The pendulum rod normally swings back and forth across the end of the casing 63, the latch bolt 61 being held in a retracted position by the detent (30. However, as soon as the car 3 reaches the bottom of the inclined track and actuates the trip lever 56, the pull produced upon the cable 58 thereby withdraws the detent from engagement with the latch bolt (31 so that the latter is forced outwardly by the action of the spring 64: and the beveled nose 65 thereof projected into the path of the pendulum rod 35. When swinging outwardly the pendulum rod will engage the beveled nose 65 of the latch bolt 61 and force the latch bolt inwardly until after the pendulum rod has passed the same. will then be again projected into the path of the pendulum rod so as to prevent the re- The nose of the latch bolt turn thereof and thereby loclc the escapement mechanism. A suitable finger piece 66 may be provided in connection with the latch bolt (51 for convenience in manually resetting the pendulum locking means after the car has been manually drawn to the top of the track and again filled with water preparatory to descending. When releasing the pendulum and again bringing the escapement mechanism into action it will be necessary to start the pendulum with a greater amplitude of movement than would be possible by merely releasing the latch bolt 61. Upon a large motor the weight of the bob 36 would be considerable so that a special lever 67 would be necessary for swinging the pendulum the necessary dis tance to one side preparatory to releasing the same. The return of the car to the top of the track, and the releasing of the pendulum after the empty car has been again refilled with water are the only operations which must be manually performed, the remainder of the operation of the motor being automatic in its action.

Both the hopper 13 and the car 3 are specially constructed to avoid any possibility of the device becoming clogged and rendered inoperative by the deposits of sedi ment from muddy water. The hopper 13 is formed with an inclined bottom 13 and is provided with an interior partition 68 which is reversely inclined with respect to the bottom 13, so that before reaching the outlet opening 19 water within the hopper must first flow downwardly over the inclined partition or baffle plate 63 and then downwardly along the inclined bottom 13 Sweeps G9 are arranged to travel along the interior partition (58 and inclined bottom 13, said sweeps being carried by endless chains 70 passing around sprockets 71 upon transverse shafts 72 extending across the hopper. The flow of water over the inclined partition (38 and inclined bottom 13 acts upon the sweeps 69 to move the same when the hopper is discharged, and as these sweeps travel along the inclined surfaces any sediment which may have been deposited thereon is stirred up so as to flow out with the water. The car 3 is also formed with an inclined bottom 3 and provided upon the interior thereof with an oppositely inclined partition 7 3. Sweeps 74 identical in construction with those previously described in connection with the hopper 13 are mounted over the inclined partition 73 and inclined bottom 3 and operate in the same manner to stir up any sediment which may have been deposited, so that the same will be carried OK with the water when the car is discharged. The peculiar construction of the hopper and car and the provision t ereof with the sweeps thus enables the device to be sucwill be observed that the reservoir 9 is provided with a suitable cage 75 to prevent slit and rubbish from clogging the discharge opening 11, and that an agitating wheel 76 is arranged within the cage 75 and mounted to be actuated by the outflow of water when the valve 12 is opened. lhis wheel 76 serves to stir up any sediment which may have been deposited adjacent the discharge opening 11, so that there is no danger of the said discharge opening becoming clogged in such a manner as to interfere with the operation of the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a water reservoir at the top of the track, a drum, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the track and formed with a tank body, a cable connecting the drum to the car, means for discharging water from the reservoir into the tank body of the car when the car is at the top of the track, speed governing means having an operative connection with the drum for controlling the descent of the car, means for discharging the tank body of the car at the bottom of the track, and manually operated means for returning the car to the top of the track.

2. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, means for loading the car at the top of the track, speed controlling means governing the descent of the car, driven means actuated by the descent of the car, means for automatically discharging the car at the bottom 01 the track, means for returning the car to the top of the track, and means actuated by the car for automatically locking the driven meansduring the ascent of the car. i

3. A gravity motor including an inclined track a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a drum at the top oi the inclined track, a cable connecting the drum and the car, the track being inclined laterally with respect to the drum so that the cable will wind upon the drum and unwind therefrom evenly as the car moves up and down upon the inclined track, means for loading the car at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, and driven means having an operative connection with the drum.

4. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a water reservoir at the top of the track, a drum, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the track and formed with a tank body, a cable connecting the drum to the car, means for discharging water from the reservoir into the tank body of the car whenthe car is at the top of the tlTL-OlQSPBGd governing means having an operative connection with the drum for controlling the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the drum, and

means for discharging the tank body of the car at the bottom of the track.

5. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a water reservoir at the upper end of the track, a drum a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track and formed with a tank body, a cable connecting the drum and the car, means for discharging water from the reservoir into the tank body of the car when the car is at the top of the track, a wheel having a pawl and ratchet connection with the drum so as to be driven thereby upon the descent of the car, speed controlling means cooperating with the wheel to govern the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the before mentioned wheel, and means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track.

6. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, means for loading the car at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at'the bottom of the track, a drum at the upper end of the track, a cable connecting the car and the drum, speed controlling means cooperating with the drum to govern the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the drum, means for returning the empty car to the top of the track, and means actuated by the car for automatically locking the driven means a 'ainst backward movement during the ascent of the car.

7 A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a drum at the upper end of the inclined track, a cable connecting the drum and the car, means for loading the car at the top of the track, driven means actuated by the drum during the descent of the car, speed controlling means cooperating with the drum to govern the'descent of the car, detent controlled means for locking the driven means against backward movement, a trip lever having an operating connection with the detent controlled means so as toautomatically actuate the same when the car reachesthe bottom of the inclined track, and means for returning the car to the top of the inclined track.

8. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a drum at the upper end of the inclined track, a cable connecting the car and the drum, means for loading the car at the top of the track, an escapement wheel having a pawl and ratchet connection with the drum so as to be driven thereby during the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the escapement wheel, means including a pendulum eoiiperating with the escapement wheel to govern the descent of the car, means for returning the car to the top of the track, and latch means for locking the pendulum against motion during the ascent of the car.

9. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a drum at the upper end of the track, a cable connecting the drum and the car, means for loading the car at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, an escapement wheel having a pawl and ratchet connection with the drum so as to be driven thereby during the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the escapement wheel, means including a pendulum for cooperation with the escapement wheel to govern the descent of the car, trip controlled latch means for locking the pendulum against motion, means actuated by the car for automatically releasing the said latch means when the car reaches the bottom of the inclined track, and means for returning the car to the top of the track.

10. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a drum at the top of the track, a cable connecting the drum and the car, means for automatically loading the car when it reaches the top of the track, means for automatically discharging the car when it reaches the bottom of the track, an escapement wheel having a pawl and ratchet connection with the drum so as to be driven thereby during the descent of the car, driven means having an operative connection with the escapement wheel, means including a pendulum cooperating with the escapement wheel to govern the descent of the car, anormally retracted latch member adapted to be projected into the path of the pendulum to lock the same against motion, a trip lever having an operative connection with the said latch means and arranged for actuation by the car when the latter reaches the bottom of the track, and means for returning the empty car to the top of the track.

11. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, means for filling the car with water at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the Copies of track, sediment removing sweeps within the car, and driven means actuated by the descent of the car.

12. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, and formed with a discharge opening and a bottom inclined toward the discharge opening, means for filling the car with water at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, sediment removing sweeps mounted to travel over the inclined bottom of the car and to be actuated by the outflow of water from the car, and driven means actuated by the descent of the car.

13, A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, said car being formed with an inclined bottom and .a re versely inclined transverse partition, adischarge opening being provided at the lower end of the inclined bottom, means for filling the car with water at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, sediment removing sweeps mounted upon the inclined bottom and inclined partition of the car for actuation by the water as it is discharged, and driven means actuated by the descent of the car.

14. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a Water reservoir, a hopper receiving water from the reservoir and arranged to discharge it into the car when the latter is at the top of the track, means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, sediment removing sweeps mounted in both the hopper and the car for actuation by the water as it is discharged therefrom, and driven means actuated by the descent of the car.

15. A gravity motor including an inclined track, a car mounted to travel up and down upon the inclined track, a water reservoir, a hopper arranged to discharge into the car when at the top of the track and receiving measured charges of water from the reservoir, means for regulating the amount of each charge of water received from the reservoin means for discharging the car at the bottom of the track, and driven means actuated by the descent of the car.

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

VTILLIAM O. CROSBY. NELSON CFCARLISLE. Witnesses:

MARY V. CAnLIsLn MAY M. HERBERT.

this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

